White Abarrio puts in strong work ahead of return in Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, worked a strong half-mile Wednesday morning at Belmont that left his connections feeling quite confident heading into the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 8.

With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. up, White Abarrio went a half-mile in 47.16 seconds over the training track, galloping out five furlongs in 59.97 and six furlongs in 1:13.62. It was his eighth published work since early April and since he returned from the Middle East, following his 10th-place finish in the Group 1 Saudi Cup.

White Abarrio worked over a freshly harrowed track following the second renovation break, shortly after 9:30 a.m. Daily Racing Form timed White Abarrio in equal quarter splits of 23.58 seconds.

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“The track was in good shape and he did it the right way. I just sat on him,” Ortiz said afterward. “I don’t ask him too much on the gallop-out and he kept going out by himself. I don’t move on him.”

“He’s been breezing like that for the last month. He’s good,” said trainer Rick Dutrow.

In three starts for Dutrow last year, White Abarrio finished third in the Met Mile, before winning the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga and the BC Classic at Santa Anita. In the Saudi Cup, White Abarrio finished 10th of 14, 16 lengths behind Senor Buscador.

Neither Dutrow nor Ortiz had a good excuse for the poor effort.

“I don’t know, different track, long travel,” Ortiz opined. “Hadn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup, who knows, he was not himself for sure, he never fired.”

Both Dutrow and Ortiz said it took White Abarrio a little while to get back to where he was last summer. Dutrow deduced that White Abarrio didn’t thrive in the cooler weather but has been training better since it got warmer.

In addition to the way White Abarrio is training, Dutrow is also excited about the opportunity to run the horse again at Saratoga, where last summer he won the Whitney by six lengths.

“He’s going to a track that he freaked on. I like doing that with my horses when I can,” Dutrow said.

The field for the Met Mile will be finalized on Sunday with post positions being drawn on Monday at the same time as the Belmont Stakes. The other likely Met Mile starters include Blazing Sevens, Castle Chaos, Hoist the Gold, National Treasure, and Post Time.

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